Loving God - St. John Vianney

Interview with Rita A. Simmonds on the Sacrament of Marriage

I was so moved by the cancer patient's video in the previous post that I did had to do a little more searching. The name of his wife seemed very familiar to me. It dawned on me that she is a contributor to Magnificat magazine. In my search I came across an interview by another Magnificat contributor, Heather King. She interviewed her friend Rita in such an appealing way and exactly like it was, two friends sharing.  Even though the interview is a couple of years old, it is still much worthy of a good read.  POET RITA A. SIMMONDS ON THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE.

A Journey through Lent with a Cancer Patient

You will hear some pretty powerful and inspirational words from this dear man. From A Stage Four Cancer Patient: "Never Have I Felt So Accompanied in My Life". via: Association of Catholic Women Bloggers.

Ash Wednesday and Lent 2014

Saints Peter and Paul Church, Honolulu

I hope you have a very holy Lenten Season.

The following are resources from the convenience of sitting in front of your computer, that may help you on your journey to a holier life and a closer relationship to God.

1. Join in the Saint Damien Retreat and receive a daily email with beautiful reflections, inspiration for meditations by Hawaii's own saint, Damien.

2. Read 7 Fallible Tips for Lent by Father John Holloway and shared by Courageous Priest

3. Sign up for the free Lenten meditations by the Divine Mercy Fathers and receive a daily email.

4. Read 5 Reasons to Love Fasting.

5. Sign up for Father Robert Barron's Lenten Reflections.

Coming later this month to Paliku Theater - The Passion of the Christ play

Click graphic to enlarge to read the details.

The World of the Sick

Never before have so many people around me been in need of prayers. They are either very sick, elderly or suffering from debilitating diseases or worse, an unknown disease.

As Catholics it is our responsibility to perform the corporal act of mercy of visiting the sick.  Sometimes, we are called to do more than just visit them.

One person has an aggressive form of breast cancer. Nothing she has done has helped.  She and her husband pray and wait for an answer to their prayers.  It has been almost two years and they have no relief in sight.  Their situation only gets worse.

Friends visit them, bring them Holy Communion, bring them meals, bring them a priest to hear confession, ask how they are doing, and of course pray.  Yet, they feel isolated.

The husband told me that no one understands the world of the sick.

That is incredible food for thought.

Yes, we may do our part to help, but then we have the luxury to do something else.  We can go home.  We can distract ourselves with other things.  But the very sick live every moment of their time consumed in pain.

I don't presume to imagine how they feel or where their relationship is with God.  But it is frustrating to hear the sick, especially the Catholics who are sick, not unite their suffering to those of Jesus' Passion.  One told me she offered enough of her sufferings.  She was now looking for relief.  Another told me, she offers her sufferings for her own soul.  This was in response to a suggestion that she offer up her pain and suffering for others in need.  Yet another Catholic says he believes in what ever happens, happens.  This fatalistic thinking is not in union with Catholic teaching.  Neither is the belief in karma or healing with Eastern energies such as Reiki.

When one is seriously sick and in pain, it is very difficult to think of anything but the consuming pain.  It is especially during this time that the sick person should turn to God.  Tell Him all your pains. Ask Him to heal you if it be His will.  Ask Him to help you patiently endure until He sees fit to give you relieve.  Offer your pains as reparation for your past sins or for those of your loved ones.  This is especially important because you may be suffering like this as a gift from God so that you can do your time in Purgatory, while you are still alive.  This is what is meant by not to waste your sufferings.

Caregivers, particularly the spouse of the sick person, also suffers right along their loved one.  They too must offer up their sufferings.  But it is also important that they remind the sick person that it is only holy sufferings if it is united to those of Christ's.

Prayer of Resignation in Suffering

Merciful Lord of life,

I lift up my heart to You in my suffering

and ask for your comforting help.

I know that you would withhold the thorns of this life

if I could attain eternal life without them.

So I throw myself on Your mercy,

resigning myself to this suffering.

Grant me the grace to bear it

and to offer it in union with Your sufferings.

No matter what suffering may come my way,

let me always trust in You.

Amen.

Your petitions at Lourdes Grotto - prayers for Our Lady of Lourdes Feast Feb. 11

Shared by Mary Jane.

 

Place your petitions at the Grotto of Lourdes in France

http://www.lourdes-france.org/index.php?contexte=en&id=499

 

View live shot of Grotto and watch Lourdes TV

http://www.lourdes-radio.com/player_live/player_live_en/player-token_en.php

 

 

Short Novena: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/OL_lourdes_short.htm

Our Lady of LourdesFeast Day February 11   O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it  a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.   I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain,  O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.  (mention your intentions here) Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

longer version: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/lourdes.htm

 

http://en.lourdes-france.org/praying/say-a-prayer/novena-11-February

 

Two prayers to prepare the universal celebration of Our Lady of Lourdes, on February 11

 

Mary, you showed yourself to Bernadette
in the crevice of the rock.
In the cold and grey of winter,
you brought the warmth, light and beauty
of your presence,

 

In the often obscure depths of our lives,
in the depth of the world where evil is so powerful,
bring hope,
return our confidence!

 

You are the Immaculate Conception,
come to our aid, sinners that we are.
Give us the humility to have a change of heart,
the courage to do penance.
Teach us to pray for all people.

 

Guide us to the source of true life.
Make us pilgrims going forward with your Church,
whet our appetite for the Eucharist,
the bread for the journey, the bread of life.

 

The Spirit brought about wonders in you, O Mary :
by his power, he has placed you near the Father,
in the glory of your eternal Son.
Look with kindness
on our miserable bodies and hearts.
Shine forth for us, like a gentle light,
at the hour of our death.

 

Together with Bernadette, we pray to you, O Mary,
as your poor children.
May we enter, like her, into the spirit of the Beatitudes.
Then, we will be able, here below,
begin to know the joy of the Kingdom of Heaven
and sing together with you :
Magnificent !

 

Glory to you, Virgin Mary,
blessed servant of the Lord,
Mother of God,
dwelling place of the Holy Spirit!

 

Amen.

St. Francis de Sales

Picture source

Today the church celebrates the feast of a saint who was the Bishop of Geneva and also a very popular spiritual writer even today.

The following are some of his quotes.

Rash Judgments

"How displeasing to God are rash judgments!"

Self-Love

"Self-love ordinarily leads us astray from reason, directing us insensibly to a thousand small, yet dangerous, injustices and iniquities..."

Devotions

"Do not be ashamed to practice those common and necessary actions that bring us to the love of God."

"It is an error, or rather a heresy, to try to banish the devout life from the regiment of soldiers, the shop of the mechanic, the court of princes, or the home of married folk."

Sin

"Have in mind these four things:  that by sin you have lost the grace of God; that you have given up your place in paradise; that you have chosen the eternal pains of hell; and that you have renounced the eternal love of God.

If you desire,...to undertake a devout life, you must not only cease to sin, but you must also cleanse your heart from all affection for sin."

"...we must purge the soul from every affection to venial sins."

"A venial sin, no matter how small, displeases God, though not to such a degree as to cause him to cast off or damn us for it."

Prayer

"Above all, I recommend to you mental prayer, the prayer of the heart, and particularly that which concerns the life and Passion of our Lord."

"Begin all your prayers, whether mental or vocal, in the presence of God."

"The rosary is a very useful form of prayer, provided you know how to say it properly."

- Introduction to the Devout Life

Saint Mother Marianne Cope - Photos

 Wooden statue of Saint Mother Marianne Cope that was temporarily housed at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.  Same Cathedral where Father Damien was ordained.

 Following the canonization, Honolulu celebrated its newest saint with a special mass at the Cathedral, procession of the relic to the only royal palace in the United States, Iolani Palace.

The reliquary of Saint Mother Marianne Cope is on the opposite side of the Saint Damien reliquary in front of the adoration chapel in the Cathedral.  It is taken out for special occasions for veneration.


Saint Mother Marianne Cope,
you left your homeland, and you left your adopted home to care for those unloved, sick and forgotten in the Hawaiian islands.
Please intercede for those who continue to be marginalized by society.  Help us to love them as you loved the people on Kalaupapa.  We ask this to Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen

Why Go to Mass?

Shared by a friend.